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C. H. GOULD.

STEP 0R sTAlR.

No. 251,713. l Patented Jan. 3,1882.

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--UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. GOULD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STEP OR STAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,713, dated January 3, 1882. Application tiled May 5, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. GOULD, of the city. county, and Stateof New York, have `invented Improvements in Steps orv Stairs;

and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part-of this specification- Figure 1 being a top view of a step or stair provided with my improvements; Fig. 2, a front view ot' the same; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section thereof; Fig. 4, a section like Fig. 3, showing a modiiied construction ofthe nosing-shield.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the gures. y

My invention consists in an improved indiarubber or elastic covering for a step or stair, used especially asa safetystep for outdoor use,

andin a nosing-shield toprotect both the edge Y by simple screws, bolts, or nails.

As a furtherimprovement in the step-covering I combine alternate stripsA A ot' the canvas and india-rubber or other soft or elastic materiahhowever made, and intermediate narrow strips, B B, of iron,'wood, or other suitable hard material. These alternate strips of elastic and hard materials serve two important purposes. First, the hard strips serve to keep the soft or elastic strips in place and prevent the abrasion or fretting of their edges; second, it allows any one or more strips to be removed and replaced when worn away without removing the others on the step, it being shown by experience that some parts of the covering,

employ the nosing-shield G, which forms an-I other feature ot' my invention. This nosingshield consists of a strip ot'iron, brass, or other A suitable metal or material, fitting over the nosing orVl front edge ot' the stair or step., either over the upper part thereof only, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or `over the whole width ot' the nosing, as shown in Fig. 4; and it also. projects above the nosing, so as to abut against and protect the front edge of the elastic covering of the step or stair. This nosing-shield is formed of good shape for proper appearance and proper to tit upon the step or stair nosing. It is attached to the step or stair by screws or other suitable means. Not only does this n osing-shield protect the edge of the elastic covering from wear and fretting, but also the edge ofthe step or stair itself; and it may be used on stairs and steps when no elastic covering is employed thereon. Y

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

vThe combination of a step or stair, D, mator soft covering A, and nosing-shield U, arranged to project above the stair-nosing to protect the mat, substantially as and for the purpose herein specied. Y

The foregoing specification signed by me this 27th day of November, 1878.

CHARLES H. GOULD. 

